But what would Teimoto-san say if he didn't like any kind of movie genre in particular?Could he say "Watashi wa suki na eiga ga nai." ? I guess it could mean that he doesn't have a favorite movie, yes? But I would like to know how to say that he doesn't have a genre preference.

In a conversation, he can say "I have no favorite movies in particular."「これといって好きな(ジャンルの)映画は無いんだ。」(無いよ also OK. Koreto itte sukina (Junru no) eiga ha nainda (Naiyo)But 無いよ could be casual image. 無いんだ is easy to connect ごめん gomen = I'm sorry. Therefore 無いんだ is suitable in this situation.)In addition, "But I like movies. "でも映画は好きだよ。Demo eiga ha sukidayo.You will find most of Japanese are this type. Why they like movies, but don't have favorite one. Because, they only like to do relax watching movie.They even can't remember the last movie who have watched, including me^^;

In a conversation, I also use 特にコレと言って...＝ 特にコレという程...「う～ん、別に好きな映画って特に無いよ or 特には無いよ。」= collaboration of 別に... 無い＋好きな映画って(聞かれても...)＋特には無いよ。

In a writing sentence, 特に好きな映画は無い と 彼は 申し訳 無さそうに 言った。 or まじめな顔で 言った。or 照れながら 言った。 or as you like.

Could you tell me what the sick students mean?Also, may I ask you if you used a machine translator? I can’t recognize which language you are thinking in. I mean, for instance, if your original idea in your mind had been “zombies aren’t real” in English, what have made you come up with the phrase “ゾンビは現実の生き物じゃない” in Japanese?

I used 病気の大学生 hoping it would describe students who are sick. Because of the flu going around on the college campus, many of the sick students walking around look like zombies - slow and with bleak faces.

NileCat wrote:Also, may I ask you if you used a machine translator?

Never. Just a dictionary for a few words. I do not trust nor do I advocate machine translators.

NileCat wrote:I can’t recognize which language you are thinking in. I mean, for instance, if your original idea in your mind had been “zombies aren’t real” in English, what have made you come up with the phrase “ゾンビは現実の生き物じゃない” in Japanese?

I still struggle with whether or not to translate actual words or translate the underlying though. My Japanese is filtered through Korean first, and the English is just the idea I want to convey. Not necessarily the closer-to-word translation.

現実の生物じゃない is the closest Japanese equivalent idea-for-idea I could think of to describe a creature that is not real using Korean language - without using a dictionary. In English, "real" as in "a non-fictional creature." I'm not even sure if it's an actual phrase let alone a conversational one Which is why I post it here!

So if you can please help with making it sound more casual as "Zombies aren't real." instead of "Zombies are not creatures of reality" (hahah), that would promote great progress for my studies!

Kessembi wrote:My Japanese is filtered through Korean first, and the English is just the idea I want to convey.

Thank you for answering to my question. And that makes sense!

To begin with, are you familiar with two different styles in term of the level of politeness? One is usually called desu/masu style. And the other is assumed more casual language. Both of them are fine to use. However, we usually don’t mix them up, because they are “style(s)”. In your sentences, the first thing I noticed was the confusion of the styles, which has made your conversation sounds a bit weird. In your first question in the topic, you used the perfect desu/masu style, but all of a sudden, you have started using very colloquial style.

Secondly, your Japanese is better than you might think. Meaning-wise, it seems you are fully capable to convey your intention. Which means, however, you can’t expect simple corrections like ones you see in the basic textbooks. There doesn’t exist “the one and only” correct expression. Therefore, if you’d like corrections that fit your original intention, the English explanation is important. (Sorry, I don't speak Korean!)

I used 病気の大学生 hoping it would describe students who are sick. Because of the flu going around on the college campus, many of the sick students walking around look like zombies - slow and with bleak faces.

NileCat wrote:To begin with, are you familiar with two different styles in term of the level of politeness? One is usually called desu/masu style. And the other is assumed more casual language. Both of them are fine to use.... In your first question in the topic, you used the perfect desu/masu style, but all of a sudden, you have started using very colloquial style.

I think so. By two different styles, are you refering to the difference in saying:

特に好きなジャンルはありません。でも映画は好きですよ。And...これといって好きな映画はないんだ。でも映画は好きだよ。

Ya?

NileCat also wrote: However, we usually don’t mix them up, because they are “style(s)”. In your sentences, the first thing I noticed was the confusion of the styles, which has made your conversation sound a bit weird.

Hahah~ Korean also have levels of politeness - but some occasions, the levels mixed to convey tone. For example, if a friend wants to be sarcastic, serious or tongue-in-cheek, he may use a formal way of speaking one level higher than casual for that sentence with his close friend, as some close Korean friends will feel a bit uneasy (which is the goal of these tones sometimes).

But, I wasn't trying to do that in the Japanese though I just want to practice only one tone, you know?